Speeches:

Ten different lectures will cover quite a unique range of topics.

All speeches will be given in German, unless otherwise noted (see FAQ).

Scheduled Speeches:

Early Vector Computers

The second development in the early history of Supercomputing (after the CDC 6600/7600 scalar Supercomputers) was the advent of Vector Supercomputers, notably the CDC STAR-100 and Cray families. The underlying technological and economical reasons for this development are exhibited, and the logic and economy of Vector Computing is discussed.
This is also the introduction to the VCFe excursion (see below).
Language English or German
By John Zabolitzky

Hard Drives

Hard Drive Technology for Beginners.
Language English or German
by Gerd Schuenemann

Siemens 2002

It's 1957, and the first fully transistorized computers are to be installed at customer sites. A collection of stories and history
Language English or German
By Helmut Maier

Baptism of Fire in the Valley: how a non-techie got into all this

In the summer of 1999, I ended up in Silicon Valley by accident, after being bumped off a flight to San Francisco. The people I met sparked a chain reaction that led to a book, and began an enduring fascination for the passion of computer collectors. I'll be sharing some of my tales from the Valley, and considering artifacts of the future.
Language English
By Christine Finn, author of 'Artifacts: an archaeologist's year in Silicon Valley'

Cray-Cyber Project

A year ago the Cray-Cyber Project was initiated. This speech will give an in deep view of all proceedings form a somewhat laid back perspective. It will include interesting background information for participants of our VCFe Excursion (see below).
Language English or German
ByFrederik Meerwaldt

Kleinrechenautomat D4a

The Kleinrechenautomat D4a (Small Computing Automat Dresden Mark 4a) was eventually the first ever desktop PC at its presentation in 1963.
Language English or German
By Thomas Falk

mnib - a Tool to Archive Copy Protected C64 Disks

mnib is a disk archiver tool for original C64 disks. A Commodore 1541 or 1571 disk drive is connected to an ordinary PC's printer port will be used to archive this. Raw GCR data is read in complete track chunks by using a parallel data transfer cable. The talk will feature the hard/software approach as well as software protection techniques generally encountered on copy protected C64 disks.
Language English or German
By Markus Brenner

C64 in Forestry

An enterprise resource planning system for the Commodore C64 - history and development.
Language German
By Wolfgang Kainz-Huber

CCDD - XML and old Data

The usage of XML to preserve old data.
Language English or German
By Hans Franke

FORTH and Home Computers

The uniqueness of FORTH has created a fixed user base over the years. This compact software is used for development on small home computer systems as well as on embedded systems and recent PC architectures. The speech will tell about:

• What's FORTH anyway (History and Basics)
• FORTH today
• Where is FORTH used today
• where to find recent FORTH information
• are there new/recent FORTH versions for home computer systems?

Language English or German
By Carsten Strotmann

VCFe Excursion Tour

You will experience a real working CDC Dinosaur, including a hands on demonstration.

A CDC Cyber 960, the last of a successful family of supercomputers which started in 1964 with the CDC 6600. The machine is part of the Cray-Cyber Project. Visitors will be able to operate a Fortran Program. Beside this highlight other fine computers will be on Display, including a CRAY Y-MP, the 'smallest' ever computer of Cray Research.

The demonstration itself will take about 60 minutes. The whole tour will be 1 hour 50. Departure is every hour at :30 in front of the VCFe exhibition hall.

Please Notice:

• The Tour requires an additional fee of EUR 2,-.
• You may not travel on your own.
• It is strongly recommended to visit the CDC and/or Cray-Cyber speech before you participate.
• There's a maximum number of 10 visitors per Tour.
• There are no restrooms at the tours destination.

More Ideas?

• Another theme you'd like to see covered ?
• You want to do your own speech ? ?
• Or you know somebody able to do so ? ? ?

Just send us a notification.